A classic and timely chronicle of the personal

search for integrity and honor

aligned with a nation’s need

for identity and freedom;

uniquely crafted by Canadian Director, Matthew Godfrey.

 

Sue Ozeran

Tolucan Times 10/8/04

‘Cymbeline’ Fights For Honor

By Mary Mallory

Ashley Trevathan, Brad Gorman

Leaders betray the hope and honor of their people. Hypocrisy reigns, with deceit, lust, and ambitions seeming to overwhelm justice, freedom, and happiness.

A potent allegory for our times, Write Act Repertory Company presents a powerful production of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, one that questions the actions of leaders who fail to remember history and arrogantly impose their vision on the world.

Cymbeline features many of Shakespeare’s constant subjects: duality of character, betrayals of both nations and couples, cunning and clever villains. The British king Cymbeline resists and fights Roman rule as his daughter and lover struggle to overcome the duplicity of the devious villain. Characters plot the downfall and destruction of others.

Elizabeth Romaine

Director Matthew Godfrey inspires his cast to outstanding performances. As the cunning Iachimo, Olivier Raynal oozes a cheeky, flip superficiality, coiling his plotting personality around his victims like a snake. Wendy Gough brings warmth and sensitivity to the princess Imogen, but also injects a strong feistiness to the character.

Pamela Salem’s Queen possesses enormous energy and passion, arrogant and judgmental towards others. Matty Ferraro makes the upright, loyal Posthumus a deep feeling, tender soul who arises with fury when faced by betrayal.

Pamela Salem

Director Godfrey’s creative vision also crafts the dramatic look and tension of the production. A giant, velvet like cloth envelops the stage, functioning as landscape, sail, framing device, and screen for the allegorical images happening behind it. The action occurs on many different levels of platforms, echoing the range of personality in many of the characters.

An evocative, threatening mural by Raynal adorns the back wall and gorgeous, Noh-like masks by Gough cover the ghosts. Simple, sensual costumes by Lou Briggs enhance the sexual feel.

David Woodle

Socially and politically relevant to our time, Cymbeline powerfully chronicles the personal search for integrity and honor in a world of hypocrisy and betrayal, in which nations either learn from the harsh consequences of their actions or are doomed to perish.

Lisa Cassandra

The Write Act Repertory Company and producing artistic director John Lant present William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8:00 P. M. through November 6 at Write Act Theatre, 6128 Yucca St. in Hollywood. Pre-show at 7:30 p.m. featuring “Bard-on-a-box” with Matthew St. James. Free parking on Carlos St. Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors, students, and groups. For information and reservations, call (323) 860-8894.

Sue Ozeran

*************

NoHo LA -- 10/ 12/04

RECOMMENDED!

Jacob Clark

Write Act Repertory Company is fast becoming a favorite of theatregoers looking for challenging, cutting edge work.  It is a company that features the same actors in one contrasting role after another and makes a long-term commitment to its writers.  This season, their newly renovated space has been the home for an existentialist tragedy, a self-deprecatory satire, a new play festival, and will be wrapping up the first half with what could be the hottest holiday ticket in town, Teshuvah, by Clyde Derrick.  

Dana Lyn Baron

Write Act's current offering, William Shakespeare's Cymbeline, typifies the company's strength.   Director Matthew Godfrey, a Moscow Art Theatre graduate, plumbs the text for contemporary relevance, making the Elizabethan play particularly timely during this election season.  The play closes shortly after the election, on Nov. 6.

Graham Barnard

This production is a remarkable example of ensemble acting, and every role is created to full effect in a stage atmosphere of crisp pacing an mutual respect.  Wendy Gough, as the princess Imogen, becomes the character so fully that each word seems freshly uttered.  Gough is an actress of immensely generous talent.  Her own depth and immediacy bring out the best in any actor playing to her. Her scenes with lover-husband Posthumus, played by Matty Ferraro, sizzle with immediacy, making fidelity in marriage a sensual as well as a virtuous proposition.

Olivier Raynal, Wendy Gough

Olivier Raynal is a perfect match for Gough and Ferraro, as Iachimo, a lying Italian who tries to destroy their love.  Raynal imbues Iachimo with sexy intentions, while avoiding the pitfall of over-playing villainy, and the result is a deeply troubled man who is nevertheless not beyond redemption.  Raynal's craft is equal to his art: he uses Shakespeare's rhythm to full effect and punctuates his playing with mesmerizing silences. 

Wil Bowers turns his talents to a full realization of the role of Roman Caius Lucius.  Besides his natural handsomeness, there is goodness about Bowers' persona, which always draws the spectator into his performances. As a woman said to her companion during the curtain call, "he's hot!"

                                               --Jacob Clark

Wil Bowers

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Olivier Raynal

Bringing Cymbeline to Life

Producing Artistic Director, John Lant and Write Act Repertory Company bring William Shakespeare's lesser-known work Cymbeline to the Los Angeles stage. Cymbeline is a dramatic triptych: the resistance of a British king to Roman rule, two lovers driven apart by the lies of the cunning villain, and two young princes kidnapped and reared in the wild. Audiences will find the churning twists and provocative characters of this Elizabethan saga, cautioning a young empire of its eventual hubris, to be highly relevant.

Dana Lyn Baron, Matty Ferraro

Canadian Actor Matthew Godfrey, first introduced to American audiences through his work on Nickelodeon's You Can't Do That on Television, makes his directorial debut by helming Write Act's first Shakespearian production.  Trained at the National Theatre School of Canada and the Moscow Art Theatre, Godfrey remains loyal to his theatrical roots-  most recently seen performing in John Osborne's A Patriot for Me, and Franz Kafka's The Trial both produced at Write Act. Godfrey's love for Shakespeare was revitalized by working with Robin Phillips during Soulpepper Theatre Company's inaugural season in Toronto. "I am particularly passionate about Cymbeline," Godfrey states. "It is a classic and timely chronicle of the personal search for integrity and honour, set against a nation's need for identity and freedom.  Be it personal or national, we are responsible for our actions and must continually strive to learn from experience and history. Our actions are only as pure as our intentions."

Matty Ferraro, Olivier Raynal

In accord with Write Act Rep's mission to bring added nuances to the theatrical experience, Godfrey has orchestrated a special pre-show performance co-written with Matthew St. James that begins as soon as patrons enter the theatre. "Bard on a Box" is a unique, tongue in cheek, demystification of Shakespeare's words with a comedic and fanciful flare intended as a segue from a hectic day in LA to a classical night at the theatre.

Steve Keyes

Producing Artistic Director John Lant intends to produce classical productions in upcoming seasons at Write Act.  Lant states, "Write Act Rep endeavors to include our diverse artists in bold interpretations of accessible classical theatre. By focusing on works with heightened language, profound themes and complex characters, written by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, we can explore how and why our modern playwrights, actors and directors are influenced the way they are today."

Wendy Gough, Matty Ferraro

Photos: Lou Briggs